Final_RFQ_Q&A_As_of_11JUL18.pdf

Updated as of 11 JUL 18

Final RFQ FA8003-18-R-0004 for USAF Office Seating II Program Q&As

1. Question – How can I get a copy of this bid?

Answer

– https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b5e5ab7bfe7a1e787e6153943d4 48007&tab=core&_cview=0

2. Question – Is it OK to bid a large manufacturer in a teaming agreement or does the Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR) rule apply and the manufacturer has to be small also?

Answer – In Attachment 3 - BPA Terms and Conditions, "11. Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR): The NMR applies to this acquisition. Contractors must be in compliance as a waiver or exception to the NMR is not applicable to these BPAs. See CFR 121.406 and FAR 19.502-2 for more information." The manufacturer has to be a small business.

3. Question – Does a dealer have to have seating products on Schedule 71 in order to be considered? We are on another schedule.

Answer – You would need to get on GSA Schedule 71 Furniture, specifically SIN 711 17 Multiple Seating and SIN 711 18 Multipurpose Seating. Refer to Attachment 1 - Instructions to Offerors, under section 1. General Information, paragraph 1.1.

4. Question – How will the request for the additional features be handled on the Call Level?

Answer – Air Force buyers will have to submit a waiver request for any customer specific requirements. If waiver is approved, they will purchase those chairs outside of the Seating II Program/BPAs.

5. Question – Is a Q&A submission deadline for the AF BPA?

Answer – You can send questions to AFICA.Office.Seating@us.af.mil until the Final RFQ closes at 2:00 P.M. EST 27 July 2018.

6. Question – I know the latest Air Force Seating BPA is requiring small business set aside;

however, is Air Force also requiring respondents/awardees be limited to small business manufacturers too?

Answer – No, it is not limited to small business manufacturers, small business dealers can respond but the Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR) applies.

7. Question – From Attachment 8 “Model BPA” Page 8, Paragraph 11: Reference is made, in the solicitation, to the NonManufacturer Rule (NMR). We have read 13CFR 121.406 and FAR 19.502-2 in which it clearly states that the manufacturer must be small and produce its goods in the United States. 1) Please verify that this means that even though a company/manufacturer https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b5e5ab7bfe7a1e787e6153943d448007&tab=core&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b5e5ab7bfe7a1e787e6153943d448007&tab=core&_cview=0 has its business office or headquarters within United States, the fact that its product is produced/manufactured in a country other than the United States would disqualify it from this procurement opportunity. 2) Similarly, a company that is located in a country other than the United States but produces its good in the United States.

Answer – The Buy American Act applies to this acquisition. Refer to GSA Schedule 71 contract terms and conditions; and Attachment 8 – Model BPA DFARS 252.225-7012 Preference for Certain Domestic Commodities.

8. Question – Set Aside: Will any special consideration be given to Women-Owned or Economically Disadvantaged offerors on this procurement opportunity?

Answer – No.

9. Question – From Attachment 8 “Model BPA” Page 7, Paragraph 5: Will special consideration be given to a vendor who offers delivery in less than 45 days?

Answer – No, special consideration will not be given to a vendor who offers delivery in less than 45 days for the original BPA award; however, a customer could request expedited delivery at the Call/order level.

10. Question – From Attachment 8 “Model BPA” Page 7, Paragraph 5: Will past performance factor into the decision process when selecting the awardees on this procurement opportunity?

Answer – No.

11. Question – From Attachment 8 “Model BPA” Page 7, Paragraph 5: The solicitation states that all tags must be removed from the chairs upon delivery. Our standard manufacturing process attaches an instruction card enclosed in a Packing List Envelope for use over the life of the chair.

Would it be acceptable to leave this tag on the chair after delivery/installation?

Answer – It is up to the customer if the instructions tag is left on the chair(s).

12. Question – From Attachment 2 Evaluation Criteria, Page 3, Paragraph 3.1.3 Unbalanced Pricing:

Unbalanced pricing is sometimes used in a responsible manner as a strategic “marketing” effort.

The result could be a significantly price advantage for the Air Force buyer. May a vendor/respondent make a statement in their cover letter that they did utilize unbalanced pricing and are responsible for fulfilling the orders at that price for the duration of the contract?

Answer – In Attachment 2 – Evaluation Criteria, Contractors are cautioned against submitting an offer that contains unbalanced pricing. Offers deemed to be unbalanced will likely be found unacceptable.

13. Question – From Attachment 8 “Model BPA” Page 9, Paragraph 15: Are all BPA holders required to respond to all calls that are issued on E Buy? Is there are prescribed percentage or number of calls that a BPA holder must respond to in a given time period?

Answer – Yes, we expect full participation; and BPA holders must respond before Request for Quote (RFQ) closes in eBuy.

14. Question – Products T.UU, CR.MU, CR.UU, GS.MU, GS.UU, EX.UU & T.MU. All require “A minimum of two faux-leather/vinyl options…” May a vendor propose a smooth finish and an embossed (grained) finish within a single color and still meet the requirement of “two options”.

Answer – The smooth finish faux-leather/vinyl in multiple colors could be one option, and the embossed finish in multiple colors as the other option. A single color in two finish options was not our intent.

15. Question – In Attachment 5 – Pricing Matrix, 1.) Column A requires a Chair Image to be inserted.

The cell is protected and will not allow for an image to be inserted. 2.) Column G does not change consistently when the BPA NTE Price/Chair net price is lower than the GSA Price.

Answer – Please reference Amendment – 6/27/18 for corrected Attachment 5 - Pricing Matrix.

16. Question – A Synchro tilt is used to synchronize independent seats and backs. Are you looking for an Executive Chair with a synchro tilt; or a unibody chair, which would not use a synchro tilt?

Answer – Vendor can submit either style synchronized tilt or multi-tilt mechanism for Executive category.

17. Question – In Attachment 5 Pricing Matrix, if you look at the following breakdown of the fabrics styles (solid, patterned, vinyl and leather) and 5-star base styles (Black and polished aluminum) it is not possible to provide pricing without expanding the rows within the (LIN’s); for example, EX.UU would have 6 different NTE’s. How am I to illustrate my NTE’s?

Answer – The highest of the six NTE's would be the NTE included in the pricing matrix. We did not allow for breakout of option pricing in any of the requirements categories. The NTE is the highest price a contractor would be able to bid for that category on an order.

18. Question – For the chairs that are in the meshed back category, will a Polymer back (Perforated) considered as a mesh back because it’s ventilated?

Answer – No, Polymer back (Perforated) does not meet the requirement.

19. Question – In regards to the pricing matrix, do I need to fill in the same pricing for each of the five tabs (Year 1, Year 2, Year 3…etc.)? Can you please further clarify on the price increase request for the duration of this AF BPA contract?

Answer – If a contractor needs to incorporate a price increase for each year, it is their discretion to do so, and they may choose not to as well. In that case, yes, the pricing would be the same across all years.

20. Question – All the following questions pertain to Attachment 4 – Requirements Matrix:

• EX.UU.1: Is this to be read as the vendor has the option of providing a metal or nylon 5-star base, not that the vendor is to provide both options to the customer?

Answer – Yes, the vendor has the option of providing one or the other.

• EX.UU.3: Is this to be read that the vendor has the option of providing (either/or) polished aluminum /black base or that the vendor is to provide a base model with the black base and to allow the customer to select an aluminum base at an upcharge? If the vendor is to provide the option for an upcharge, how would this be represented on the Attachment 5 Pricing Matrix?

Answer – Yes, the vendor has the option of providing one or the other. No, there is no option for an upcharge. Refer to Question #17 answer above.

• EX.UU.6: A synchronized, or Multi-Tilt mechanism requires a separate back and seat. This will sacrifice the option to provide an “Executive” style chair that is one piece and more often associated with “Executive” styling. Synchro or Multi-Tilt is more often found on a Task or High Back task chair. Will you accept an “Executive” chair that has a separate seat and back?

Answer – Vendor can submit either style synchronized tilt or multi-tilt mechanism for Executive category.

• EX.UU.9: Is the vendor being asked to provide all 3 arm options or is the vendor being asked to provide one of the 3 arm options? If the vendor is providing all 3 options, a base model options with upcharges for the other 2 options, how is this to be represented on Attachment 5 Pricing Matrix?

Answer – Yes, the vendor has the option of providing one of the 3 arm options. There is no option for an upcharge. Refer to Question #17 answer above.

• EX.LL.12: Is the vendor being asked to provide 5 different color options, 5 different grade options or 5 different finish options (Smooth, Embossed, grained, patterned, etc.) of leather?

Answer – The vendor is being asked to provide 5 different finish options in multiple colors.

• EX.LL.13: Many manufacturers of leather do not use the UFAC Class 1 but instead use the NFPA 260 Class 1 Test which is the exact same test. (See below). Will you accept NFPA 260 Class 1 test for Flammability for Leather Upholstery?

Answer – Yes, we will accept NFPA 260 Class 1 test for Flammability for Leather.

• T.MU.14: Are the Two Faux-leather/Vinyl options to be 2 colors or two Grades or two Finishes (Smooth and textured)?

Answer – The two faux-leather/vinyl to be two finishes. For example, the smooth finish faux-leather/vinyl in multiple colors could be one option, and the embossed finish in multiple colors as the other option.

• GS.MU.2: “Frames and Arms available in Black or Graphite Finish” Is this to be read as the vendor may select one or the other to offer on the RFQ or is this to be read that the vendor is to provide both finishes so that the customer can select one or the other?

• GS.MU.5: Is this to be read that the vendor has the option of offering the chair on the RFQ as one or the other or that the vendor must make both options available to the customer?

• GS.MU.6: Is this to be read as the vendor can choose either a stacking or nesting version of the chair to offer on the RFQ or that the chair must be able to Stack and Nest?

• GS.UU.4: Is this to be read as the vendor can choose which of the two styles, sled base or 4- Leg, to offer on the RFQ or that the chair needs to be available in both 4-leg and sled base?

21. Question – For all chairs, are duplicate base models allowed in regard to UU, LL, MU? As in regarding chair type; for example the same chair type has different options available that can support two chair categories such as EX.UU and EX.LL specified.

Answer – Per Attachment 1 - Instructions to Offerors, Section 2.2.1 Technical Requirements it states, "Do not duplicate the same product for multiple seating categories (i.e. the same chair cannot be submitted within the task category if it was already submitted in the executive category).”

22. Question – I am inquiring about the solicitation for the USAF Office Seating II Program, when is it opening to bid?

Answer

– https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b5e5ab7bfe7a1e787e6153943d4 48007&tab=core&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b5e5ab7bfe7a1e787e6153943d448007&tab=core&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b5e5ab7bfe7a1e787e6153943d448007&tab=core&_cview=0